The Newton County School System is pleased to announce that 12 teachers have earned $17,494.96 in Bright Ideas Grants from Snapping Shoals EMC to provide innovating educational activities and opportunities in the classroom. According to Terry Clark, Vice?President of Energy Services for Snapping Shoals, the funds were "left over from capital credits that went unclaimed for the last five years."
"Snapping Shoals, a partner with the school system for many years, has again contributed to the resourcefulness of our teachers," said Dr. Steve Whatley, Superintendent for Newton County Schools. "Their funding of these competitive teacher grants creatively enhances the delivery of instruction and learning for our students."
Dr. Kathy Garber, Newton County School System grant writer, stated that upon hearing about the awards, the school system had, "an amazing response with over 40 applications submitted for consideration." Garber added that the high quality of ideas submitted made it very difficult for the judges reviewing the grant applications to make their final decisions.
"It was an interesting experience this year," said Dr. Linda Hayden, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, who also served as a judge on this year's panel. "The majority of the grants addressed issues in the forefront right now for education. The teachers ought to be commended for taking that extra step to enhance education in their classrooms."
Hayden also added that the school system appreciated the continued support of Snapping Shoals, EMC. In addition to being a longtime partner in education, this is the second year the Electric Membership Corporation has provided Bright Ideas grants for Newton County School System educators.
What follows is a list of teachers who earned grants for their schools:
Prudence Williams-Harris, Sharp Learning Center: "The Standards Can Be Fun! Science Mastery, Learning, and Fun!" $,1995to purchase science equipment to promote interest and enthusiasm for science, apply hands?on applications to GPS science standards, and demonstrate how these standards apply to everyday life.
Michelle Cole, Palmer Stone Elementary School: "Tools for Learning." $1,190 to purchase math manipulatives to help make abstract concepts more concrete. Students will gain understanding and confidence as a result of doing mathematics.
Teresa Raines and Lori McGovern, Indian Creek Middle School: "Kaleidoscope: A Literary Magazine." $1,851.00 to fund a literary magazine to allow students to submit their best poetry, fiction, and nonfiction stories for publication and have positive and authentic experiences while applying English/Language Arts standards.
Leah Green, Rocky Plains Elementary School: "Math Stations with Manipulatives." $1,200 to fund math stations with manipulatives to enable teachers to meet with students in small groups, ensure that students' mathematical needs are met, and continue on?going math assessments.
Sally Wade, Mainstay Academy: "Sharing the Green!" $2,000 to develop a learning garden where students will engage in hands?on learning in gardening, nutrition, food production, ecology and conservation. Food grown will be donated to local food banks.
Kerry Stevens, Eastside High School: "Portable Field Classroom-Bring the Students to Biology!" $1,913.95 to fund a portable field classroom enabling students to study ecological
Donna Harris, Ficquett Elementary School: "Active Bodies, Active Minds: Integrating Academics with Activity." $1,925.89 to fund a variety of research?based kinesthetic activities
Kristina Collins, Newton High School: "The TIPS Project: A ‘Bridge to Success' Support Program." $1,300 to fund the TIPS (Teacher, Instruction, Parents, and Students) project to serve as an extension of the new HS Math 1 Support Course by extending service to teachers and parents. Provides teacher training in Professional Learning Communities.
Shontelle Lampkin-Jackson, Veterans Memorial Middle School: "Learning through Fitness." $1,543.52 to fund a program for adaptive special education to enhance observation, logic, memory, and reflexes of students with exceptionalities such as physical, intellectual, and communication impairments.
Lynda Reagan, Physical Therapist, Sharp Learning Center: "Creating a Lending Library for Adapted Toys/Instructional Materials for Children with Physical Disabilities." $575 to fund a lending library of educational toys for children who have limited access to typical toys and educational and recreational materials.
Patricia Alexander, Veterans Memorial Middle School: "The Giving Pond." $2,000 to create a station suitable for pond study by constructing a safe walkway/path to the water's edge where a dock/platform will allow for safe collection of pond water, clarity tests, and depth analysis.
